On the 15th of September 2004, the Screaming Ducks were invited to guide and lead the Tour of the 101st Airborne Association along the dikes and the fields of ' The Island'. With the Para Research Team as guides on three of the four Tourbusses we visited the villages of Heteren, Driel, Elst, Zetten, Valburg, Opheusden, Andelst, Slijk Ewijk and Dodewaard. The group consisted out of friends, family and veterans of the 101st Airborne, including almost 40 veterans of WW2. Parachute Infantry, Glider Infantry, Artillery, Headquarters, 501st, 502nd, 506th, 327th, 402nd, 326th Engineers, 101st Signal Corps, medics... all Units were present.

While in Heteren we also met Sandra Bonilla Thompson. She is the daughter of Nicholas Bonilla, pfc. of the 502nd who was KIA on September 22 1944. Sandra had heared about the Dutch Screaming Ducks and wanted to meet us. So we did in Heteren. Sandra has written a book about her parents since, through D-Day and Market Garden, forever they kept a promise to 'Love, Honor and Cherish'! It's a true WW2 story about a Screaming Eagle and a courageous woman. Well Sandra, here is the picture of our meeting. And as promised we will visit Your fathers grave in Margraten (plot K, row 17, grave 16). We cherish the memory of our galant liberators!

The day started with coffee at Heteren. Then we drove to the 101st Airborne Division monument on the dike where several wreaths were layed. The youth of Heteren had come out in great numbers to see the legendary Airborne-men. The Honor Guard was inspected by Captain Robert E. Jones, one of the 502ns Parachute Infantry Regiment veterans present. After the ceremony (in typical Dutch weather -yes, it started raining-) we drove along the dike passing Coffins Corner, where 501st Troopers knocked out a German Sturmgeschutz by using a British Anti-Tank gun.

After lunch we drove through Heteren, and followed the dike along the Crossroads location (E-Co 506th PIR faced some 200 Germans from the 363 Volksgrenadier Regiment that sneaked onto The Island by ferry, at that location) and continued in the direction of Randwijk. The Tourbusses guided by Jeeps drawed a lot of attention and friendly faces pulled up near our convoy at every stop. The people of The Island still have a very warm feeling for the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne. At Opheusden we attended a second commemoration in honor of the veterans. At this occasion Cees Jansen (Screaming Ducks Para Research Team) had the honor of laying a commemorative wreath.

A special moment for us; meeting the brother of Joe Mann (502nd PIR -Medal of Honor- KIA near Best in 1944), Harold Mann. It was an unforgettable day with all these great men, just to name a few; Bob Lott (401st GIR), the Krochka Family, Paul Hanna (HQ 101st), Jed Jedziniaic (501st PIR), George Mullins (327th GIR), Joseph Crilley (326th Engineers), Vinnie Vicari (Division Artillery)... and so many more. A special salute to Charlie Gant and Lawrence Rives, 502nd men from an other war (Vietnam). Friends for life because of a bond founded within the 502st Regiment, 101st AB.
The Tour ended in Valburg where we had a farewell diner. We appriciated the kind words, and expressed our deepest feelings of sympathy to the men, and the families. We hope to meet again, in years to come, generations to guide. For we all pledged that commemoration is the road paving a bridge to the future. And the Screaming Ducks & Para Research Team will lead the way in educating and commemorating ! ALL THE WAY !